PANJIM: Senior officer bearers of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) along with representatives from many Jewellery Associations across the nation today called for an extension of the strike till March 7, 2016 to protest against the Government’s adamant attitude to implement Excise Duty in the Gems & Jewellery sector.
GJF had a meeting with the Prime Minister and submitted their representation, highlighting the foreseeable plight of jewellers, manufacturers and artisans following imposition of exercise duty. They have been also meeting Senior Ministers and many Government Bureaucrats for the same.
G V Sreedhar, GJF chairman said, “The Excise guidelines which has been drafted for the Gems & Jewellery are not practically implementable and will be detrimental to the survival of the industry. We are expecting positive results from the Government, but our agitation and protest continues. All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF), with co-ordination and recommendation from All India Jewellery Associations decided to extend the strike till March 7, 2016.” More than 3 lakh jewelers including manufacturers and artisans are participating in the strike that was implemented for 3 days from 2nd to 4th March, 2016. The size of domestic industry is estimated to be around Rs 3.15 lakh crore with the potential to grow to Rs 5 lakh crore by 2018.
